Certification Information

Ultrasound technicians or diagnostic medical sonographers who have graduated from an accredited ultrasound program may seek certification administrated by ARDMS (American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography). ARDMS offers several certifications, including Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). ARDMS states on its website that certified technicians earn more than non-certified technicians do. Certification at present is voluntary, but many employers require it. In addition, ASE (American Society of Echocardiography) states that some insurers of healthcare do not pay for work performed by non-certified ultrasound technicians.

Salary Overview

According to PayScale.com, ultrasound technicians with the RDMS certification earned a median salary of $45,781 in April 2014. On the other hand, the same source reported that the median salary for ultrasound technicians in general was $43,639 at that time. However, salaries depend on your employer and location as well.

Salary by Employer

While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report figures for certified ultrasound technicians, it does have salary data for diagnostic medical sonographers in general (www.bls.gov). In May 2013, the BLS reported that most of these professionals earned between $45,840 and $92,070. The largest employer of sonographers was general and surgical hospitals, and the average salary offered by those facilities was $67,570.

Salary by Location

According to the BLS, California, Florida, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania employed the most diagnostic medical sonographers in May 2013. Salaries for these locations ranged from $59,620-$86,550, with California offering the highest pay of any state.

Of all metropolitan areas, the New York-White Plains-Wayne,NY-NJ, area had the highest employment level and offered an average wage of $67,410, according to May 2013 BLS figures. On the other hand, the highest average wage of $111,700 was found in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, metro area.